August 9, 2024

QUICK HITS

• NASA SEWP VI Solicitation: In response to Industry feedback, NASA HQ Contracting has decided to implement a “strategic pause.”

• When a Protégé rebels against its Mentor: Ignorance about fiduciary duties could cause contractors to pay a high price.

• Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): Misconceptions & misinterpretations about streamlining compliance.

• GovCon reading list: Hand-picked collection of the best expert-written articles on federal contracting from the month of July.

GOVBREW INSIDER

• Check out this week’s 70+ opportunities from defense, civilian, and intel agencies.

• In this week's recompete report, our team uncovered 20+ upcoming IT & Archive Services opportunities at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

• See if your company qualifies for any of the latest grants & competitions.

• Stay up to date on the upcoming events.

• Keep track of the latest Agency Acquisition Forecasts.

Become a GovBrew Insider member to receive new reports weekly. Join here

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

Safeguarding the defense supply chain: Contractors will be subject to DCSA reviews and more filings.

The Pentagon issued a new DoD Instruction (DoDI), expanding the Foreign Ownership Control and Influence review process to include all DOD contractors holding contracts over $5 million. Read more

Hypersonic weapons: A report to Congress about their background and issues.

In the past, the budget for hypersonic weapons was relatively limited. However, both the Pentagon and Congress are now becoming increasingly interested in developing and deploying these systems. Read more

Replicator: The military completed training using cheap drones.

Some U.S. military units have finished training on affordable drones developed through the Replicator project, marking a significant win for the Pentagon’s key innovation initiative. Replicator was initiated in response to the growing concern that the U.S. military could quickly deplete its costly and difficult-to-manufacture munitions. Read more

ICYMI:

• RFI: USAF is looking to create a new consortium, called the Defense Energy Consortium (DECo). Interested in being a part of DECo?

• RFI: Space Force wants industry input on Draft Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve Framework.

• News and unanswered questions: Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program.

• The “Bill Belichick” “Don Shula” of DOD contracts is helping the Air Force negotiate a deal for AMRAAM missiles.

• DISA is aiming for cloud expansion.

Defense Contract Awards

• Pentagon awarded ~$1B JWCC in task orders.

• ManTech booked a $139M DARPA Director’s Office Support Services deal.

• BAE was awarded a $48 million AFRL Data Analytics Platform deal.

• IonQ bagged a $5.7M DOD Networked Quantum Computing System contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• DARPA has a new CIO.

• Fluor welcomed their new COO & CLO.

• Former GovCIO executive was tapped to be Clarity Innovations’ CFO.

• Harmonia selected a new Law Enforcement & Cybersecurity VP.

Defense Job Openings

• Army Futures Command needs a Division Chief (Engineering).

• Army wants a Space Capabilities Integration Chief.

• Navy SOCPAC is seeking a CTO.

• USAF is hiring a Software Directorate Director.

TRIVIA 🤔

Just click the choice you think is right & the correct answer will be shown. Scroll down to the bottom of the email for more information about the correct answer.

VIDEO

INTEL COMMUNITY

CrowdStrike mishap: A drill for a bigger China-led cyber attack?

Did the CrowdStrike outage serve as a rehearsal for potential critical system disruptions that could be caused by unfriendly nations? CISA director Jen Easterly believes that cybersecurity is fundamentally about enhancing the resilience of our networks and systems to endure major disruptions and minimize recovery time, ensuring continuous service provision. Read more

ICYMI:

• RFI: USSOCOM is seeking contractor-owned/contractor-operated (COCO) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services.

• RFI: DISA is looking for a prototype to develop a transformed, standardized IBM z hosting environment called "Fangorn.”

• RFI: DARPA is seeking next-gen electronic surveillance tech (NGEST).

• Black Hat USA: AWS weak spots gave way to S3 attack.

• ODNI needs a Chief of Acquisition, Resources, and Planning (CARP).

CIVILIAN

FESI is now here: How will it be placed on a maximum impact path?

The Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI) has been established as an independent non-profit organization authorized by Congress to aid the DOE's mission and to expand energy tech commercialization. Read more

AI Innovations in Financial Services Act shields financial regulators testing AI from enforcement actions.

Officials from federal financial regulatory agencies may soon be permitted to work on AI tools without the risk of enforcement actions. The “Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act” would establish “regulatory sandboxes” where experimentation could proceed without restrictive regulations or retroactive enforcement. Read more

The legal challenges that contractors may face due to AI.

It's rare to talk to a contractor who is not offering some services that are AI-related. But AI introduces numerous legal challenges for contractors, particularly due to the White House’s emphasis on ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. So how can you use these money- and time-saving technologies and still be safe and compliant? Read more

ICYMI:

• RFI: The FAA is seeking Low Code Application Platform (LCAP) tools and collaboration/work management tools.

• Here’s how a US health agency became a shield for polluters.

• Lenovo has joined the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative initiative.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Noblis, Deloitte, and Centennial were given a spot on the $1.9B IRS Enterprise Program Integration Support deal.

• Verizon secures $176M DHS Emergency Telecom, Wireless Priority Services contract.

• Deloitte Consulting was awarded a $58M CDC IT Services contract.

• Futrend Technology won an $11M NLM OCPL Support Services deal.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• DHS has a new MPAC Operations Support Director.

• A WMATA Director was tapped to be the VA’s new CE HR Information Services Deputy Executive Director.

• Former ARRAY CFO is now Unissant’s CFO.

• EMH Government Solutions selected a new COO.

Civilian Job Openings 

• Federal Housing Finance Agency wants a COO.

• SSA is seeking a CDO.

• USDA Forest Service is hiring an Associate Deputy Chief.

M&A CORNER

Chenega has acquired SecuriGence.

Chenega bought SecuriGence with the plans of incorporating it into its military, intelligence, and operations strategic business unit. The acquisition will enhance Chenega MIOS’ portfolio by adding systems engineering, cybersecurity, software engineering, and cloud and virtual management capabilities to support the company’s DOD and Intelligence Community clients. Read more

ICYMI

• Microsoft and Palantir will collaborate to enhance AI products for defense and intelligence agencies.

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

The world’s first spaceliner will be launched soon!

Sierra Space calls it the Dream Chaser—the planet's first true spaceliner. Building on the Space Shuttle’s legacy and a 1960s spacecraft design, the Dream Chaser embraces reusability by transporting cargo to various orbits and landing like a regular aircraft. The uncrewed, sleek ship was built mainly to resupply the International Space Station. Read more

How is Sunita Williams’ delayed trip back to Earth impacting her eye health?

Astronauts who spend a long time in space could experience eye health problems due to microgravity. The Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome manifests through symptoms like vision changes, swelling of the optic nerve, eye shape alteration, and wrinkling of the vascular layer behind the retina. Sunita has been out in space for over 50 days. Is she having vision problems? Read more

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TRIVIA ANSWER ⭐️

$250,000 — In most cases, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information leading to the arrest of a “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.”The FBI has a lot of other interesting facts on their website here.

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